Matrox DualHead2Go Digital SE External Multi-Display Adaptor Review

Testing:

Now we move on to the part we have all been waiting to see. To test the Matrox DualHead2Go adaptor, I set it up and used it for a few days as an extension of my main work laptop. What better way to test the adaptor than using it in my daily life since my Lenovo ThinkPad T410i has a built-in DisplayPort. Testing involved bringing it to my work environment and utilizing it not only for personal uses but for business tasks as well. Some of the areas I focused on were the image quality (which is normally number one on everyone’s list), the setup process, what devices it is compatible with, and overall usefulness. I measured each area on a scale of one through ten and also provided my thoughts about each area.

Testing Setup:

Laptop: Lenovo Thinkpad T410i w/ DisplayPort

Impressions and Experience:

Image Quality

Setup

Compatibility

Usefulness

Portability

Image Quality:

The image quality of the Matrox DualHead2Go was amazing to say the least. There were no distortions; the color was vibrant and true to life not only on my DVI monitors at home but also using DVI projectors at work. At some times it seemed like the monitors hooked up to the adaptor were out-performing the laptop's built-in high resolution display.

Setup:

Setup was quite simple. It was as easy as 1) installing the drivers from the website, 2) plugging everything in, and 3) customizing it to your preferences. While I like having the latest drivers, it would have been nice to see at least an initial set of drivers on the CD for those who may not have an internet connection at the time of setup.

Compatibility:

Since this is a digital setup there are no analog connections, but you can still use analog if you prefer. While not supported internally, I was able to use a DVI to HDMI adaptor to connect a second display. I was not able to get too much customization with this method, but it worked nonetheless. The only drawback to using the DisplayPort input is that there are not many laptops or graphics cards with a full size DisplayPort available. For the price of the unit, a Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort adaptor would have been nice to see included in the box, but it is not a game changer.

Usefulness:

There are so many reasons to use the DualHead2Go. I used it for personal and business tasks for this review, which allowed me to extend displays at home and use it for business presentations hooked up to two overhead projectors at work. You can also use the adaptor for CAD design, digital signs in a business or shop, and even for gaming if you dare.

Portability:

The adaptor is small and the cables, while a little bulky, fit into a laptop bag quite nicely. The idea of not having a separate power adaptor makes traveling with it much easier and makes setup a breeze. I was quite amazed how well this little package presented itself.